Greenleaf Whittier Donnally was my husband's maternal grandfather. I never had the chance to know him, as he died the year before I met his grandson. I love listening to the stories told of "Granddad" from various members of the family, especially my mother-in-law. He was a Christian gentleman, serving his God in any way he could. He loved to sing Gospel songs with his daughters and had the "voice of an Angel". Granddad had a great love of family, and made each member feel special. He also loved to garden. The land on which his house sat was expansive, stretching almost a whole block, on which he loving grew hundreds of varieties of flowers (annual and perrenial) and "tons" of vegetables. My mother-in-law remembers playing out in the vast backyard, and passerbys stopping to admire the grounds. It was said to be "prettier than any park in Charleston". She had many heart-to-heart talks with her Dad out on the big front porch with the many rocking chairs with hand made quilts draped over them. My husband has many fond memories at Grandad's. He lived just at the end of their street, and he and his brothers would spend many an afternoon swinging on Grandad's tire swing set up especially for "the Grands", laying in the cool grass under the spanish moss draped trees, or filling their bellies with warm stawberries from the garden. Granddad would sit in his lawn chair under his old and tattered straw hat, or work in the garden while quietly singing Gospel songs and keeping one eye on the kids. He would share his harvest with anyone in need, and then with all the neighbors. He would place a big basket of fruits, veggies, etc. on his front porch, and all the neighbors knew that it was meant for anyone in need. No need to ask - it was there for the giving; and many people would come by, take what they needed, and leave the rest for someone else. Sometimes they would even leave a jar of jam, a bar of home made soap, a pie or a note of thanks; and he surely appreciated them all, but it meant the most to Granddad when someone would lift him up in prayer. He was a very generous and giving man, but also extremely modest, never wanting to draw attention to himself (which was kind of hard given his stature!). He was a good man. Very tall and
handsome. Grandad worked for some tome as a coal miner. One day, while working an underground mine, the support beams collapsed nearly killing him and just about tore his scalp from the top of his head. The huge scar, which encircled his head like a halo can be seen in pictures taken anytime after the accident. When Granddad knew the time was close for God to call him Home, he asked that his daughters "sing him Home". God called Granddad home, with his daughters and second wife gathered around his bed, singing old Gospel hymns. He died with a smile on his face. The following was copied from the Charleston Post and Courier:

Greenleaf Whittier Donnally of Savannah Highway died Sunday at his residence. The funeral will be March 14, 1979 at the First Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Carolina Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Donnally was born April 17, 1899 in Charleston, West Virginia to Thomas P. and Merab Clifton Donnally. He was an active member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Surviving are his widow: Margaret Virginia Pickett Donnally, four daughters: Mrs. Margaret Lusher, Mrs. Lois Britt, Mrs. Edith Aldridge, Mrs. Elizabeth Harvill (my mother-in-law); a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ruby Rollins Donnally; a stepson, Neil Steward, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Harold G. Donnally and a daughter Mrs. Patricia Ann Pace.